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Your skin is the body’s largest organ. It weighs between two and four kilos (or 4 and 8 pounds), covers between one and two square metres (9 to 36 square feet) and completely renews itself every seven to ten weeks, with approximately five million dead skin cells rubbing off on a daily basis.

Your skin reflects your state of health and your biological age, being soft and smooth when well-cared for, or dry and flaky when taken for granted. To be the proud owner of beautiful, soft, young-looking skin, you need to take care of it. When taking care of your skin, it’s vital that you take care of the part of you that everybody sees - your face and neck.

The absolute golden rule, before you start using products on the delicate skin of your face, is to determine your skin type…

Normal and combination skin

Slight oily sheen in the T-zone area
Drier cheek area
Occasional pimples and spots

Dry and sensitive skin

Fine, dry lines around the eyes and mouth, dehydration lines on fact
Cheek area is dull, dry and taut
Skin that’s very sensitive to sun, wind and pollution

Oily skin Oil sheen in T-zone area and on cheeks Enlarged pores and blackheads evident Frequent pimples and spots

So, how can you help keep your skin looking and feeling young?

Make sure you do the following:

1. Have a daily intake of two litres of water, including 2-3 glasses with high quality aloe extract

2. Enjoy a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables

3. Try to have sound, restful sleep

4. Practice a daily skin care regime using high quality products that suit your skin type

5. Take a high quality supplementation programme, including a vitamin & mineral supplement

6. Take a brisk walk in the fresh air every day

7. Keep stress levels to a minimum and have a happy attitude to life in general

The following daily practices will have a detrimental long term effect on the skin:

1. Inadequate daily water intake

2. Poor nutrition, junk food

3. Lack of sleep

4. Stress

5. Prescribed drugs

6. Excess coffee and tea

7. Alcohol consumption

8. Smoking

9. Excess exposure to sunlight, or cold, wet, windy weather

10.Central heating and air conditioning

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is an independent Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach and creator of the online weight loss & health magazine Weight Loss Health. For a free weight loss consultation, newsletter and resources to help you lose weight and keep it off forever, visit weight-loss-health.com.au Online Herbalife store at weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com

How to exercise for flat abs. It is important to get an exercise routine worked out for flat abs because if you aren’t using them, you lose them.  You should know how to do sit-ups and other exercise routines in order to accomplish this goal.  It feels great to be able to show off a fit looking stomach from time to time, and it always feels good to have one!

Herbal acne home cures can be an effective adjunct to whatever other treatments are being used. It is important to understand that they are not hard and fast ‘cures’ in the absolute sense, but will instead support the body’s capacity to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, and encourage elimination through the lymphatic system.

The class of herbs known as alterative herbs are conceptualized traditionally as ‘cleansing’ the body’s tissues. They are thought of as detoxifying herbs, but they don’t work in any obvious way on the body’s elimination channels. - Namely, the lungs, kidneys, or colon. As such, they do not easily fit into a Western model of understanding the body. However, they do have a long tradition of use, and are certainly worth trying as an acne home remedy. Because they work on the internal condition of the body, they are not going to replace any of the topical, over the counter acne treatments. But they may provide benefit in an indirect way that these acne products don’t.

Alterative herbs tend to be quite gentle in their effect, so they are best used as a long term treatment. Results won’t be sudden, but they will improve the general health of the body. They tend to be given for chronic inflammatory problems, especially relating to the skin, such as acne.

These herbs include burdock, cleavers, red clover, figwort, poke root, echinacea, and blue flag. A great combination is blue flag, burdock, yellow dock, and echinacea. These can be mixed together and infused with hot water to make a tea. Drink a cup of this 3 times a day. You can put a little honey in it to make it taste better.

Another possible combination is burdock, dandelion, and sarsaparilla (not the cola!). Mix these together when they are dry herbs, and make a tea in the same way. They can be used separately as well.

There are a number of options for topical acne home remedies as well. Tea tree oil can be applied directly to breakouts, though for those with sensitive skin this may need to be diluted. Fresh cabbage juice can also be applied directly to acne blemishes, and this may be a better option for those with sensitive skin.

An anti inflammatory skin wash can be made from calendula and chamomile. Make a tea as above, then let it cool and keep it in the fridge. Spray or dab this onto the affected areas regularly.

Another combination for an acne home cure skin wash is yarrow, elder flowers, and lavender.

Colloidal minerals such as potassium phosphate and magnesium phosphate can help support the skin. Zinc is excellent to help prevent scarring, as well as fortifying the immune system, and help support the normal functioning of hormones.

Vitamin C is excellent for encouraging the healing of acne lesions, as well as providing antioxidant support to the immune system.

References:
1. Simon Mills, The Essential Book Of Herbal Medicine
2. Judy Jacka, A - Z Of Natural Therapies
3. Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing

B5 supplements for acne have been popular in some quarters, but there is important information you should know before you take that path. Get the vitamin b 5 acne theory debunked here.

Information and advice on healthy eating: Myths Revealed. There sure are many different theories going around so I found this site that actually compiled the information together in one easy to read site so you can get you information straight and remember it when you need it. Also, resourceful links to healthy eating tips to find the right foods for your healthy diet.

Some men may not know or do not have the slightest idea if
a woman is ready to be kissed. These men may be sitting
beside their dates talking too much they suddenly realize
how the lips of their dates are so kissable.

Their imagination will then take control, but this would
also mean disaster if done wrong. This may often leave
these men without a second chance for another date with the
woman.

If a guy finds himself talking to a girl and wondering if
she’s ready to be kissed, he may softly touch her hair and
give a compliment about it.

If the girl shows a favorable reaction, this may be a sign
of getting closer to a kiss. Get closer and try reaching
for her hair again.

Touch the hair tips and simply gaze on her lips and eyes.
The fact that she does not mind about you getting closer to
her is a sign that she is comfortable. This is a sign for a
guy to go and kiss the girl.

Some guys try to go out on an adventurous date in order to
make the kissing move more suave and natural. One
particular example is a guy who usually takes a girl to a
small boat ride on a river.

Upon sailing along the river, he happens to direct the boat
to a place covered with trees and fireflies - truly a
romantic place to kiss.

A guy can also take her date to some ancient ruins in a
local spot and manage to spend time walking until dark.
These ruins usually light up at night.

The guy can take his date to the top of the ruins where
they can see the city all beautifully lit up. This is when
the guy should make a move and kiss his date.

Find more tips at LayAid.com

Is there a special occasion or a formal get-together in your near-future? Consider some silver or gold sparkle with a “kiss” of red.

For your event, cleanse and moisturize your face thoroughly. Wait a moment for the moisturizer to be absorbed and then remove any excess. *Tip* … Coverage (foundation, etc.) goes on more evenly over well-hydrated than dry skin. If necessary, use concealer on dark circles and blemishes. *Trick* … Squeeze concealer in the palm of your hand to warm it and then mix it with foundation for more consistent color. Apply foundation either on specific areas to even out skin tone or all over your face. (Blend any foundation carefully with the surrounding skin so there are no noticeable lines.) *Trick* … “Set” the foundation with loose powder for longer lasting wear. *Trick* … Getting fine lines? Try a face primer; it fills in fine lines and, followed with foundation, makes skin appear smoother.

For fun, decide whether to enhance your eyes or lips. You want to draw attention to one set of features but not both at the same time.

If you want the focus to be on your eyes, you can dramatize them with one, two or three colors. Opting for a single color? Choose a silver or gold, whichever blends with your skin tone and complements your outfit. *Tip* … Silvers and grays are cool colors while golds are usually warm and less aging. *Trick* … Use an eye color cream or an eye primer with eye color for longer wear (a real plus when you’re out). You can mix both a cream or powder eye color with the eye primer. Apply your choice of silver or gold from eye lashes to brows.

Prefer more than one color? Select one as a mid-tone (over the eyelids). Add either silver or gold as an accent (lashes to creases of eyes). Highlight (under the brow bones) with whichever you haven’t used as an accent. *Trick … mix the mid-tone color with either silver or gold for an extra “pop.” *Tip* … Sparkle emphasizes fine lines so, if it’s a concern, just add sparkly color under the brow bones.

Define your eyes with eye liner only if it makes them appear larger. If your eye shadow is predominantly golden, consider a gold or brown liner. If your eye shadow is mainly silver, try a gray or black liner. *Trick* … Lining the lower lids seems to draw the eyes down. If signs of aging are a concern, concentrate on the upper lids.

Curl your eye lashes. *Tip* … Curling the lashes gives the impression of more open (wider) eyes. Follow with a mascara that meets your needs for lengthening or widening lashes. *Tip* … Brown tends to be softer and less aging while black is more dramatic.

Don’t forget your eyebrows; they help frame your face. Darken your eyebrows with either a matching brow liner or, for a softer touch, a brow powder or powder eye shadow. *Tip* … You can also brush your eye brows and set them with a clear gel.

Put on cheek color to emphasize your cheek bones. *Tip* … Either pat the color on the high points of your cheek bones or start roughly two fingers away from your nose and sweep the color up to your temples.

If you want the focus to be on your lips, tone down the eye makeup and consider a red lip shade. There’s a red for everyone. Let your skin tone determine which reds are most becoming: those with cool undertones berries) or warm undertones (corals). Then choose muted or bright, matte or shimmer depending upon the look you want to achieve. Lip liner and lip gloss are optional.

For softer lips to complement dramatic eyes, try a subdued red. Then razzle dazzle! You’ve created a special holiday look.

© Copyright 2005. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.

Charlotte is an experienced independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Register on Charlotte’s Mary Kay Inc. web site to receive a monthly email newsletter, Beaut-e-News(tm), with tips & techniques and a seasonal mailing of “The Look” catalog with free samples plus the latest in skin care and color looks (complete privacy ensured).

http://www.marykay.com/charlottemaddox

Many women have dark circles under their eyes on a regular basis. In fact, 9 out of 10 people have to deal with dark circles under their eyes at one time or another. The condition has been blamed on anything from lack of sleep to the wrong diet. It is actually caused by one of three primary reasons.

Vascular inflammation caused by enlarged blood vessels beneath the thin skin under your eyes. Staying up late and allergies can cause the inflammation.

The bone structure of your face and add shadows under your eyes, making them look even darker then they are. This mostly affects people with deep-set eyes.

The third reason is hyper-pigmentation, a condition that is passed on through genetics.

Let’s take a look at what you can do to get rid of these dark circles under your eyes, or at least “camouflage” them.

Get plenty of rest. I know it sounds very cliché, but you really do need your beauty sleep. Do your best to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

Eat well and drink lots of water. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and lean meat. The vitamins and minerals in healthy food will improve your complexion, give you more energy and overall make you feel better. It will show in your eyes as well. Combine this with drinking at least 8 glasses of water and your skin will stay more elastic which helps with the appearance of dark circles in addition to many other skin problems.

Black Tea bags make for a great eye remedy. The black tea will help tighten the skin around your eyes, and it gives the eyes themselves a nice glow. Just brew yourself a cup of black tea and then use the teabag on your eyes. Don’t burn yourself, but put it on there as hot as you can comfortably stand it.

Grate some potato with a cheese grater and put the potato pieces under your eyes. Let them soak in for about 15 minutes, then rinse with plenty of warm water.

When everything else fails, hide your dark circles under some light concealer. Pick a shade just slightly lighter than your makeup. Put some on your index finger and gently tap it under your eyes. Use a sponge to smooth it out. Don’t use your fingers or the concealer stick to rub it in. That will make the circles appear even worse.

Visit http://www.LearnHowToRemove.com for a growing library of tips to remove those annoying messes in your life.

It is ordinary to mention that acne can have adverse effects on an acne sufferer’s self-esteem. It can even devastate a person’s social life, as acne usually makes you want to hide away.

Your self confidence can hit an all-time low and you may turn up feeling lonely and depressed. You may not even want your picture taken; you would rather sit in the dark corner at gatherings.

The remedy for this is simple: acne treatment. Treating your acne can be compared to dieting. It takes will power, time, and commitment before you can see the fruits of your labor.

Clear skin is always a sign of healthy skin, and when you have acne, you feel like an outcast or reject of society. But many times there is no need to let your acne get you down, when you can use acne treatment products. These products are there for your well-being and will assist you.

You are not alone and there are individuals who recognize and understand your acne dilemma and are ready to lend a helping hand so you can get that clear healthy skin.

All you need to do is reach out and seize that help. Hold on for dear life until acne is not a crucial social problem in your life. Uncover the correct acne treatment product for your skin type and delight in the benefits it provides when you use it to its utmost.

This is your ticket out of your unhappiness and loneliness and at times you have to make that effort to find the product that will surely make a difference in your life.

Even though acne treatment products produce results, don’t buy into the hype. Be well-informed; and spend some time scouting before you buy. Don’t purchase the first acne treatment product you see. Investigate all the ones you have chosen first and determine if they have any side effects before you reach out for your wallet.

The choice is yours. Use it wisely and you will delight in the benefit of higher self-esteem that comes with clearer skin.

Frederick Valencia is the owner of http://www.AcneWisdom.com where you can find out more about acne facts, problems and solutions.

Beginning ‘bona fide’ aromatherapy, beyond burning a scented candle or soaking with a pleasing pre-packaged bath salt blend, can be a little daunting to many people. All those little bottles of pricey liquids, electric contraptions, and fancy-sounding blends - how does one actually use essential oils to improve their health, happiness and well-being? It’s easier than one might think - getting started can open a whole new world of fun and effective natural remedies that can lift your mood, calm your nerves, and support healing of a great many common ailments.



The basics of aromatherapy are simple, once a few fundamental concepts are understood. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils - the aromatic compounds of plants, extracted through steam distillation or other methods. The oils act as the chemical messengers and protectors of the plant kingdom. Each essential oil can contain hundreds of different ‘volatile’ (easily evaporated) compounds, most of which are very compatible with the physiology of the human body. What’s so wonderful is they can also do for us what they do for plants - act as chemical messengers through affecting our smell sense and limbic system, and defending the body against foreign invaders by their anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions. In this article, we’ll focus on the mental and emotional effects of aromatherapy, and address the physiological aspects at another time.



Essential oils are best used in one of two simple ways: through inhalation, where the oils can directly affect certain areas of the brain, and through topical application, where the oils are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. (Note: Oral ingestion can be an option, but only under experienced medical supervision - further, SOME OILS CAN BE TOXIC, and other even seemingly harmless oils should not be used under certain conditions. If you are pregnant, or have specific medical needs, consult a knowledgeable practitioner before continuing!)



Inhalation of Essential Oils



Essential oils when inhaled directly effect our limbic system, the brain’s emotional centers. Many oils have been found to sharpen concentration, reduce tension and anxiety, and even reduce depression. How can we reap these magnificent benefits? There are a few simple, cost-effective ways to prepare essential oils for inhalation - and experience these wonderful effects: the ‘handkerchief method’, making your own ’smelling salts’, and making your own aromatherapy ‘mister’.



The handkerchief method is pretty straightforward - put a drop or two of an oil or blend on a tissue and inhale (careful with some oils though - peppermint, for example, can burn the sensitive skin around your nostrils if put in direct contact). You can even leave the tissue (or ‘handkerchief, or piece of cloth, or cotton, or whatever) in a room or your workspace and the oil will continue to evaporate and have its effects.



Making your own ’smelling salts’ is similar, though your preparation will last a while longer. To make the salts, fill a small vial (dark glass with a good cap is best) with natural sea salt and drop essential oils into the salt. The amount of oil is not too critical - enough that there is detectable aroma, and not so much that the salt gets completely wet. Just unscrew the cap and inhale from the bottle whenever you need a lift, or, like the handkerchief, leave the vial open in your space, letting the aroma slowly fill the area.



A ‘mister’ can be used infuse a room with aroma - just add essential oils to water in a small spray bottle, shake (before each use) and spray!



Here are a few easy recipes for the inhalation method (Note: in all recipes, the number of drops of oil and/or amount of carrier can be used as a ratio, which you can increase or decrease as you need):



For uplifting the mood and brightening the mind - 4 drops of Rosemary Cineol, 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Lemon and 1 drop of Peppermint, OR 3 drops Clary Sage, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Sweet Orange.



For calming anxiety - equal parts of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot and Orange, OR 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Neroli and 1 drop Bergamot.



For creating a harmonious atmosphere - 3 drops Jasmine, 1 drop Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Sandalwood, OR equal parts Geranium, Patchouli and Bergamot.



Aromatherapy Massage



Now for the topical application method. Usually this is described as aromatherapy massage - ideally, this is done with a partner, but self-massage will work as well. Creating your own massage oil is a straightforward process - just dilute 10 - 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. There are a variety of carrier oils available, though Sweet Almond is a great all-around oil and is recommended for general aromatherapy massage. As for the massage, itself, any technique will do - let your intuition be your guide. When you wish to get a little more advanced, do a little further research to create synergy with certain essential oils and certain acupressure points.



The same blends for inhalation can be used for massage, though here are a few more fun recipes:



For a sensual massage, per ounce of carrier oil, add - 8 drops Sandalwood, 6 drops Rose, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops Ylang Ylang.



For opening the heart, try 4 drops Spikenard, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops of Rose.



Finally, for sheer relaxation, use 6 drops Lavender, 4 drops Neroli and 2 drops Bergamot.



Don’t be afraid to create your own blends! You will certainly find particular oils that you enjoy - and aromatherapy is like that. It is the oils you find most enjoyable that are likely those that are most effective for you. My only recommendation is to change the ratios of oils you are blending very slowly. Start with one drop of each oil in a small vial, mixing them and allowing a few minutes for them to blend before adding more oil 1 drop at a time. In general, citrus oils ( Orange, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime) tend to bring alertness while calming at the same time. Herb oils (Peppermint, Rosemary) tend to be invigorating, while floral oils tend to be relaxing (Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli). This is only a guideline - many oils have complex properties and will affect individuals differently - use your nose as a guide.



Conclusion



Getting started with aromatherapy is easy, and with these simple ideas, you will be able to create essential oil preparations tailored to your needs and enjoyment. This can lead to a lifelong appreciation of these wonderful gifts from nature.

Misty Rae Cech, ND, is a naturopath and yoga teacher practicing in Boulder, Colorado. She regularly employs essential oils, flower essences, and other natural therapy modalities with her clients. She is the owner of http://www.anandaapothecary.com and http://www.ananda-aromatherapy.com.

Plan a date; get ready for the prom, set the date for your senior picture or just want to look nice. What always happens; you know, acne, a zit as big as a cabbage lands on your face or on your nose. You feel like an alien in a land of smooth skinned movie stars. Why don’t the popular kids get acne? What are they doing that you aren’t doing. Why me; why me; why does this always happen to me. I’m a good person; why am I plagued with acne. No one knows for sure why people, especially teenagers, get acne. In the fifties and sixties, teens were told that chocolate caused acne or eating too much fried food caused acne. No one really knew anything to do except use Noxzema and pray. There were only acne treatments, no cures. Having acne was seen as a rite of passage.

Today we know much more about acne and acne treatments. Some people have acne so bad that they take prescription medicine so strong that they must sign that they will not get pregnant while taking the drug. Other people take natural acne treatments because the idea of using potentially harmful treatments scares them more than the acne. The major problem with acute acne is that it can cause acne scars so bad that people have to seek acne laser treatments to improve their skin. Still others go to the grocery store and find over the counter acne products. As anyone who has ever suffered from acne will tell you, acne can rob you of your dignity and your feelings of self-worth. Our outward appearance, especially during the teen years, is so important. I know, “Pretty is as pretty does.” Well, pretty never seems to have acne.

People can be so cruel to acne sufferers. They can call you tomato face, pimple face, scar man or hundreds of ugly taunts. Because teens need to look good to feel good about themselves, the market for acne treatments is enormous. Commercials on television are always advertising the latest in acne medications especially during teen shows. The kids on the show always have smooth, blemish free faces and look exactly like every teen wants to look. Teens want to buy whatever acne medication is new and different in the hope that this new acne treatment will work better than others.

There are even infomercials about acne treatments and acne cover-ups. These infomercials show adults who are looking for make-up to cover-up acne or acne scars. This heavy make-up does seem to cover up scaring or acne on the people doing the infomercial. There are also infomercials about adult acne solutions. Unfortunately, some adults do still get acne. There is a huge market of acne medications or acne treatments for adult acne, not on just the face but also for people who suffer from acne back. Shame makes these people fear others seeing their acne.

One truth remains. There is no cure for acne but there are steps that can be taken to help prevent it. People who think that youth is wasted on the young probably never had acne.

After years as an educator and more degrees than she can count, Frances Coleman now writes professionally. She is a prolific reader with an advanced degree in research techniques. Learn more ways to prevent acne.